Yo, Pierre. Arsenal have completed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund – and announced the transfer using fellow January recruit Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The 28-year-old Gabon international joins the Gunners in a club record deal believed to be around €60 million. And, it wouldn’t be a modern football transfer without that social media video. Manchester […]

8 years ago

Jose Mourinho says Alexis Sanchez’s arrival will not adversely affect Marcus Rashford’s role at the club. While Alexis Sanchez’s capture from Arsenal was hugely exciting for Manchester United, it did cast doubt over Marcus Rashford’s future. The fact is that, with another attacking player added to the ranks, the competition for places grew even more […]

8 years ago

As steady as it gets. Liverpool’s last two games have brought with them wildly contrasting fortunes. After a disastrous FA Cup exit at the hands of West Brom at Anfield on Saturday night, the Reds got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 win over Huddersfield on Tuesday. Goals from Emre Can, Roberto Firmino […]

8 years ago

Strong looking team. It’s been a fine January for Manchester United. After a frustrating Christmas period which saw a shock defeat to Bristol City in the Carabao Cup as well as a hat-trick of draws with Leicester, Burnley and Southampton which effectively crushed any lingering hope of staying on Manchester City’s coattails, Jose Mourinho’s side […]

8 years ago

Brentford have completed the signing of exciting Limerick winger Chiedozie Ogbene, subject to international clearance. The move is a significant blow for Limerick, losing such a talented player with just two weeks to go before the start of the new League of Ireland season. Of course, this is the way football goes. If a player is […]

8 years ago

This lad is a serious talent. There has been a lot of talk, understandably, about the future of Declan Rice. The West Ham centre-back has reportedly indicated that he intends to reject Gareth Southgate’s advances to play for England in favour of sticking with Ireland. With Martin O’Neill saying recently that Ireland’s young guns will […]

8 years ago

Alan Pardew wants to keep him. West Brom have rejected an approach from Derby County to take James McClean on loan until the end of the season. According to Sky Sports, Rams boss Gary Rowett is keen to add a winger in the second-half of the season to help with his side’s bid for promotion […]

8 years ago

It seemed like a harsh decision at the time. The decision by the Clare management to take Peter Duggan off the frees on Sunday seemed brutal. Duggan had enjoyed a fine game against Tipperary at Cusack Park but, after missing two frees from 70 and 80 yards respectively, duties were handed over to David Reidy. […]

8 years ago

The one that won’t get away. Hopefully. West Ham defender Declan Rice has reportedly reaffirmed his future to the Republic of Ireland. There had been growing fears among Ireland fans that the highly-rated 19-year-old would defect to England and follow in Jack Grealish’s footsteps. However, according to reports, Rice is comfortable with his decision to […]

8 years ago

He’s definitely one for the future. While much of the attention surrounding Manchester United’s line-up for their FA Cup fourth-round clash with Yeovil understandably focused on Alexis Sanchez making his debut from the start, the club’s fans were equally as excited about something much more low-key. More specifically, the inclusion of 17-year-old youth academy graduate […]

8 years ago

Jose Mourinho hasn’t always been convinced of the left-back’s ability Last week, Jose Mourinho surprised a few people when he claimed that there were few left-backs in the modern game better than Luke Shaw. Considering he is a player Mourinho has criticised openly in the past, it came as quite a surprise. However, Shaw’s recent […]

8 years ago

The weather’s not supposed to be great this weekend anyway. If like me, you plan to be a boring bastard this weekend, you have nothing to fear because there’s loads of great sport on the TV. Let’s see what’s in store for everyone not actually heading out to matches this weekend like myself. Saturday 27 […]

8 years ago

Great story right here. GAA clubs have a special ability to bring people together and instilling a sense of community. It happens all across Ireland and that feeling of togetherness is a major reason for turning around the fortunes of Belturbet Rory O’Moore’s GFC in West Cavan. It’s hardly uncommon for a GAA club of […]

8 years ago

Like father, like son. Basketball is a big deal in St Malachy’s College, Belfast. As a former pupil there, I can tell you that there is certainly as much emphasis on basketball as there is on Gaelic football or soccer. Then again, considering the school’s pedigree when it comes to basketball, it’s no wonder. One […]

8 years ago

He gets his fair share of criticism but here is a more positive view. The perception of Jose Mourinho has changed drastically over the years. From the charismatic, arrogant upstart whose Porto side sent Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United packing in the Champions League before shifting the balance of Premier League power in Chelsea’s favour, Mourinho […]

8 years ago

No stopping that. UCD made light work of Maynooth on Tuesday afternoon as they comfortably booked their place in Round 2 of the Sigerson Cup. John Divilly’s charges, beaten finalists to St Mary’s last year, were deserved winners, with several players catching the eye at Maynooth University. That included Kerry’s Jack Barry, who scored an […]

8 years ago

It’s going to be some day of sport in Dublin. Easter Sunday in Dublin this year is set to be gripped by sporting fever with two massive events happening in the north and south of the city. Leinster will face Saracens at the Aviva Stadium in the European Champions Cup quarter-final. Leo Cullen’s side’s reward […]

8 years ago

Copenhagen and Cardiff, here we come! The Euro Nations League draw turned out to be rather exciting for Ireland. Of course, the draw itself wasn’t exciting. They never are and, despite being a new competition, this was never going to break from tradition. But it was exciting in the fact that it pitted Ireland against […]

8 years ago

It’s a sign of Trinity’s growing confidence that the overriding emotion following their eight-point defeat to Mary I in Thursday afternoon’s Fitzgibbon Cup clash was disappointment. It was an entertaining game at the University of Limerick and one from which Trinity felt they deserved more. The final scoreline of 3-20 to 3-12 certainly reflects Mary […]

8 years ago

Warning: explicit content. A video clip showing Davy Fitzgerald’s Limerick IT in an angry confrontation with members of DCU Dóchas Éireann’s management has surfaced online – and it’s not for the easily offended, but it’s not anything you wouldn’t see at a GAA game any Sunday. DCU beat Davy Fitz’s Limerick IT 3-15 to 2-17 […]

8 years ago

The club have moved to bolster their attacking options. Southampton have agreed a deal to sign Monaco striker Guido Carrillo for €22m, casting doubt over Shane Long’s future starting opportunities at St Mary’s. Under-fire manager Mauricio Pellegrino has moved to bolster strike-force after a run of poor form has seen them slip into the Premier League’s relegation […]

8 years ago

Tempers flared. In terms of touchline theatrics, they don’t come much more animated than Jurgen Klopp. So, to hear that the Liverpool boss was involved in a confrontation with a Swansea supporter during his side’s 1-0 defeat to the Welsh club on Monday night is not at all surprising. In fact, it doesn’t matter that […]

8 years ago

Irish stars of the future. The Ireland U20 Six Nations squad was announced on Monday – and it’s packed full of exciting talent. Head coach Noel McNamara unveiled his 32-man panel which features 11 players who have already been capped at this level. Such is the swell of emerging Irish talent, McNamara admitted that he […]

8 years ago

Worth saving some of your pocket money for. Retro football shirts are popular for a reason: they happen to look much nicer than current ones. I mean, Germany and Brazil have some crackers, but Premier League clubs have their fair share, too. If you’re not overly enamoured by the current home kit, maybe this one […]

8 years ago

As Ireland fans we don’t have a lot to get excited about at the moment, so the emergence of a promising young player is worth talking about. Michael Obafemi establishes himself as a first-teamer at Southampton and becomes a major presence in the Republic of Ireland set-up, adding a bit of youthful exuberance and excitement […]

8 years ago

Quite the reveal. In the end, it was quite cinematic. No wonder it took them so long to announce it – they were busy editing together their Twitter masterpiece. Announcements of player signings have become almost as sophisticated and nuanced as the contracts themselves in modern football and, for the Alexis Sanchez-Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap deal, […]

8 years ago

The last thing Jurgen Klopp needs is speed. With Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in attack, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a bit further back in midfield and Nathaniel Clyne and Andrew Robertson at full-back, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has an abundance of speed at his disposal. However, the German is forever looking to strengthen his […]

8 years ago

Mane is back to his best. Jurgen Klopp has revealed that a good old-fashioned heart-to-heart with Sadio Mane helped the struggling Liverpool winger recapture his confidence. Mane’s first season at Liverpool was ended by a knee injury against Everton but Klopp has said that a bad miss in December’s Merseyside derby also significantly affected the […]

8 years ago

Really impressive performance. Katie McCabe, Leanne Kiernan and Louise Quinn all scored brilliant goals as the Republic of Ireland women’s national team ran out 3-1 winners against Portugal on Sunday. Ireland shone in Azores after Portugal edged the first encounter 1-0 on Thursday, with Shelbourne striker Kiernan really catching the eye. Kiernan’s ingenuity on the […]

8 years ago

You can see what it meant to him. Mark Allen overcame a gutsy performance from Kyren Wilson in the Dafabet Masters final to clinch his first triple crown title. The Northern Irishman’s victory arrived exactly 40 years after fellow countryman Alex Higgins won his first Masters and it was clear how much it meant to […]

8 years ago

The 17-year-old replaced Manolo Gabbiadini during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Shane Long may not have featured for Southampton against Tottenham on Sunday, but teenager Michael Obafemi kept the Irish flag flying at St Mary’s. The Ireland U19 striker became the second-youngest player to feature for Southampton in the Premier League (behind Luke Shaw) after […]

8 years ago

Good riddance. Arsene Wenger has revealed how the protracted saga of Alexis Sanchez’s future cast a cloud of uncertainty over the Arsenal dressing room. Sanchez will become a Manchester United player in a swap deal that will see Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction and Wenger has hinted at a sense of relief now […]

8 years ago

What a bloody brilliant idea! Have you ever been left frustrated by Google Maps’ inability to find rural GAA pitches? Well, good news for ya – you don’t have to suffer for much longer. A Monaghan man has developed a map which shows every GAA pitch in Ireland. It’s a stunning effort and, although it […]

8 years ago

The Northern Irishman couldn’t quite stick the pace but Fleetwood was in a class of his own. Tommy Fleetwood is getting good at this winning lark. The 27-year-old Englishman put together a glorious back nine on Sunday to successfully defend his Abu Dhabi Championship title with a score of -22, pipping his fellow countryman Ross […]

8 years ago

The club received a significant injection of cash from selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona. Jurgen Klopp has tossed a bucket of cold water over suggestions that Liverpool will splash the cash gained from Philippe Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona in the January transfer window. The Reds generated €160 million from the Brazilian’s departure. Virgil van Dijk […]

8 years ago

The Bord Na Mona O’Byrne Cup final between Meath and Westmeath has been moved to February. News broke on Sunday morning that the match had been postponed due to an unplayable pitch at O’Moore Park. A pitch inspection took place at 9.30am and it was decided that adverse weather conditions meant the venue was unable […]

8 years ago

No, it’s not just to piss off Manchester City. When news broke that Manchester United had pretty much successfully hijacked Manchester City’s attempt to sign Alexis Sanchez, the more cynical observers concluded that it was a stunning piece of powerplay in the psychological warfare between Jose Mourinho and his rival managers. In recent weeks, Mourinho […]

8 years ago

You could have cut the tension with a knife. Wexford clinched a piece of silverware in unprecedented circumstances after edging Kilkenny in a frees shoot-out in the Bord Na Móna Walsh Cup senior hurling final at Nowlan Park. After drawing 1-24 each at the end of extra time, Wexford won the shoot-out 3-2. With the […]

8 years ago

From Melbourne to Mayo. On Saturday afternoon, Tooreen became the first Mayo hurling club to turn out in an All-Ireland semi-final as they took on St. Patrick’s Ballyragget. Last November, Tooreen defied the odds to clinch the Connacht intermediate hurling championship in what was the club’s greatest achievement since their foundation in 1957, setting up […]

8 years ago

He can empathise as well as anyone. A serious injury can really draw the dangers of professional sport into sharp focus and watching on as James McCarthy suffered a suspected double leg break on Saturday must have brought back painful memories for Seamus Coleman. Coleman, still not fit enough for a return to the Everton […]

8 years ago

It’s bad. Everton manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed our worst fears: James McCarthy suffered a fibula and tibia double break against West Brom. The game finished 1-1 but much of the attention post-match was rightly focused on McCarthy’s wellbeing. The Republic of Ireland international suffered the horrible injury after an unfortunate clash with Baggies striker […]

8 years ago

We wish him a speedy recovery. Everton’s clash with West Brom came to a standstill on Saturday afternoon as Republic of Ireland international James McCarthy suffered a suspected broken leg. The Toffees man was attempting to stop Salomon Rondon after the Baggies striker was played through but his last-ditch challenge. "Rondon has gone away in […]

8 years ago

Martin O’Neill, are you watching? Scott Hogan has never appeared in a senior competitive game for the Republic of Ireland but his current form suggests that may not be the case for much longer. The 25-year-old has hit the ground running in 2018 for Aston Villa. After scoring in successive Championship games against Bristol City […]

8 years ago

There was simply no stopping the Belgian at the Amex. Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk have forged an impressive partnership at the heart of Brighton’s defence in the Seagulls’ first Premier League season, but they were brought to their knees by a merciless, Eden Hazard-inspired Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. Antonio Conte’s champions have struggled in […]

8 years ago

What a start to life in Australia. Cora Staunton caught the eye on her Aussie Rules debut with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday morning. The 36-year-old Mayo legend shot two goals to help her side to a 50-point victory in a practice match against Brisbane Lions. Staunton became the first international sportswoman to be drafted […]

8 years ago

If Saturday is usually known as ‘moving day’ in golf, then Rory McIlroy and Paul Dunne adhered to tradition during the third round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. The Irish duo are both well-placed for the final round on Sunday after a couple of fine rounds. Greystones native Dunne catapulted 11 positions up the […]

8 years ago

Longford’s Michael Quinn claimed he was unable to participate in Sunday’s free-taking competition against Meath because he felt cramping towards the end of extra-time. Meath and Longford made GAA history when their O’Byrne Cup semi-final clash at Pairc Tailteann in Navan was decided by a free-taking competition from 45 yards out. Meath won the shootout 2-1. […]

8 years ago

The 28-year-old gets his season underway on Thursday. Rory McIlroy is feeling good. After a frustrating 2017 campaign, during which the four-time major champion was repeatedly irritated by a rib injury, he is refreshed and ready to go again. After a three month break from competitive golf, McIlroy returns to action at this week’s Abu […]

8 years ago

Manchester United don’t see it as a potential problem though. When (it’s looking like a when and not an if) Alexis Sanchez signs for Manchester United, he will become one of the highest-paid players in the world football. The Chilean, who has reportedly agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with United, will earn around €390,000-a-week at Old Trafford, which […]

8 years ago

Football says goodbye to a unique talent. Sid Lowe tells a great story about Ronaldinho. The journalist, who literally wrote the book on Barcelona and Real Madrid’s great rivalry, was in Dublin this week for a live recording of The Spanish Football Podcast at the Sugar Club. It made for a fine evening. There was […]

8 years ago